Epsom Derby Betting Guide

The UK Flat racing season plays host to a number of prestigious races, including the Triple Crown and the five British Classics.

The Epsom Derby is noteworthy because it’s both a Triple Crown renewal and one of the Classics, which explains both its prestige and its popularity – in the UK, it’s more commonly referred to as simply ‘the Derby’.

Held in June each year, the Epsom Derby is watched by millions of people in the UK and around the world, many of whom will have a bet or two on the outcome of the race.

Epsom Derby Betting

The 2024 Derby will take place on Saturday 1st June, with the Epsom Downs racetrack on hosting duties as ever.

Although the field is yet to be confirmed, you can place your bets in our sportsbook ante-post market already.

If you’re planning your betting for Epsom Derby, it’s worth noting that City of Troy is the early favourite. And why not? He won the Dewhurst Stakes in impressive fashion back in October. The three-year-old is trained by Aidan O’Brien, which is significant because the Irishman has trained seven of the last 12 Derby winners.

When betting, Epsom Derby punters should keep an eye out for the early season form of Henry Longfellow, Ancient Wisdom and Arabian Crown, who could all be major contenders.

A history of the Epsom Derby

One of the reasons why the Epsom Derby is held in such high esteem in racing is its history: it was first held way back in 1780. It was named after the Earl of Derby and the race was won by Diomed, a horse owned by the serving Member of Parliament Sir Charles Bunbury.

The Derby has been shunted around the racing schedule over the centuries, but in 1994 it found a permanent home on the first Saturday of June – where it has remained ever since.the

Epsom has been on hosting duties throughout this time, with the only exceptions being during the years of the First and Second World Wars, over a distance of one mile and four furlongs.

The Epsom Derby has become so popular that other key racing nations around the world have adopted their own version. The Prix du Jockey Club in France is often referred to as the ‘French Derby’, while the Irish Derby, Australian Derby and Kentucky Derby require little explanation.

Winners of the Epsom Derby

The real mark of the quality of the Epsom Derby is the standard of horses that have won it. Auguste Rodin, who won the race in 2023, went on to win the Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf in a remarkable season.

Adayar made history in 2021, winning the Epsom Derby and following up in the King George VI and Elizabeth Stakes, while 2015 Derby winner Golden Horn filled the trophy cabinet of owner Anthony Oppenheimer, winning the Irish Champion Stakes, Eclipse Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Some Derby winners have gone on to enjoy just as much success as sires. Galileo, the 2001 Derby champion, has sired five subsequent Epsom Derby champions and more Group 1 winners than any other horse in history.

Sea the Stars, the 2009 Derby winner, bred Harzand, the 2013 champion, while the outstanding Lammtarra, who posted the fastest winning time in Derby history in 1995, was sold to a Japanese stud farm in 1996.

Have you heard of Shergar, the racehorse that was allegedly stolen from his stables by the IRA, who demanded that a £2m ransom be paid? He won the 1981 Epsom Derby, alongside the Irish Derby and King George VI and Elizabeth Stakes in a fine year on the track.

The Flat racing Triple Crown

Of all the major races on UK soil each summer, the Epsom Derby forms part of a key trio that all trainers and owners want to win.

The Triple Crown is formed of three races held across the Flat season. First up is the 2,000 Guineas, held at Newmarket in late April or early May.

The middle leg of the Triple Crown is the Epsom Derby, before the triumvirate is completed by the St Leger in September.

Due to the rigours of the racing schedule, as well as the high quality of horses running in the modern era, there hasn’t been a winner of the Triple Crown since the iconic Nijinsky in 1970.

Epsom Derby betting tips

The standard of entrants into the Epsom Derby is so high that backing a winner is not easy – that said, there are plenty of handy insights and trends that you can use to inform your selections.

There is a definite draw bias at Epsom – so much so that nine of the last 10 winners of the Derby started out in stall seven or higher, giving them the edge heading into the turn.

It’s worth looking out for horses that have already run and won that season prior to the Derby, with extra bonus points if that victory came in a Group 1-3 renewal.

For the most part, class tells at Epsom. Other than the unrated Serpentine in 2020, none of the last 10 Derby champions were rated less than 107 – suggesting that the handicapper is very much on the ball when ranking the runners in this fascinating race.

How to bet on the Epsom Derby

It couldn’t be any easier to place your bets on the Epsom Derby with LeoVegas – whether the race is months away or the horses are heading down to the starting post.

First, however, you’ll need to register for an account. This is quick, easy and, most importantly, secure, with all of your personal details kept perfectly safe. Once your account is live, you can then make your first deposit – through our simple payment platform, you can add funds to your account using dozens of different debit cards and e-wallets.

Next, head to the horse racing section of our website or app. Click on the ante-post (future) option if you’re accessing the website more than two days before the Epsom Derby, where you’ll see a list of horses expected to run and their associated odds.

If the Derby is less than 48 hours away, simply head to the Epsom section of our horse racing pages, locate the odds for the Derby, and tap those for your chosen horse. Enter your stake in the betslip and click to confirm – our Epsom Derby betting is as straightforward as that.

What bets can be placed on the Epsom Derby?

The most popular bet type for the Epsom Derby, or any horse race for that matter, is to back the horse that you believe will win.

However, there are other options. Betting each way is a way to limit your risk, with a payout secured if your selection finishes in the requisite number of places.

You can also bet solely on a horse to finish in the places (without the win part), while there are also odds for head-to-heads – that is, backing one horse to beat another.

If you have a particularly strong feeling about how a race will play out, you can try the forecast market: betting on the exact 1-2 or 1-2-3 finishing order.

Epsom Derby Festival betting

As is the case with many great races, the Derby actually forms part of an entire festival of racing action.

The Derby Festival takes place over two days, with the Friday featuring the Group 1 Oaks – one of the five British Classics already mentioned. The first day of the meeting also features the Coronation Cup, another Group 1 renewal that is highly prized.

Derby Day itself also sees seven races contested. The Derby is, naturally, the standout feature of the day, though there’s a pair of Group 3 renewals – the Princess Elizabeth Stakes and the Diomed Stakes – that attract plenty of interest among racegoers, TV viewers and punters alike.

Epsom Derby betting FAQs

How do you bet on the Epsom Derby?

All you need to bet on the Epsom Derby is a live, funded LeoVegas account. With this, you can bet on hundreds of different horse races every week, including the entirety of the Epsom Derby Festival.

Who is the favourite to win the Epsom Derby?

The current ante-post favourite to win the Epsom Derby is City of Troy, though the odds can always change right up until the very start of the race.

What is each way betting?

If you think that a horse will win a race, but you want to minimise your betting risk, you can wager on them each way – half of your stake goes to the win part, while the other half is wagered on them to finish in the places. You can find out how many places are paid for each race via our racecards.